KC Chiefs’ injuries in Washington: Hitchens, Burton to get MRIs; Fortson tears Achilles
For a second week in a row, the Chiefs were dealt multiple in-game injuries of note. And the players hurt Sunday only add to a growing list of walking wounded for Kansas City.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said starting linebacker Anthony Hitchens suffered an elbow injury, tight end Jody Fortson tore an Achilles tendon and fullback Michael Burton suffered a left pectoral injury in Sunday’s 31-13 win over the Washington Football Team.
Reid said Hitchens and Burton were scheduled Monday to undergo MRI tests, which should help determine the extent of their respective injuries.
“We’ll see,” Reid said.
Hitchens went down in the second quarter and spent time in the blue medical tent before exiting the sideline area to head to the locker room. He finished the game with one tackle.
Fortson was hurt in the third quarter on a non-contact play away from the football. He was on the ground for several minutes, attended to by the Chiefs’ medical staff, before being carted off the field.
With Fortson, who recorded a catch for 27 yards in the first quarter, out of the game, the Chiefs were down to Travis Kelce and rookie Noah Gray at tight end, because backup Blake Bell was already out with a back injury.
“I’m sorry for Jody and what happened to him because he’s done so well,” Reid said. “But Noah came in and got some valuable reps for us.”
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (quad) and tight end Travis Kelce were also were dinged up during the game. Hill came out of the locker room late after halftime but still finished with nine catches for 76 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.
Kelce posted a team-high 99 yards on eight catches but was already contending with a stinger suffered during last weekend’s home loss to Buffalo.
“Travis was hurting,” Reid said. “His neck was sore from the week before, stiff. But he worked through it and did a nice job.”
The Chiefs also played Sunday without defensive end Chris Jones (wrist) and cornerback Charvarius Ward, whose quad injury has prevented him from playing since Week 2.
